Author: Gadmin (Page 1 of 9)

Where are you from?

Castlegar, Galway 

School?

Mercy Secondary School, Galway City

Career?

Youth Worker in Galway 

When did your start playing rugby?

Started playing rugby in 2016 when I was in college in Athlone, I had played camogie growing up but my friends in college convinced me to switch to the oval ball, I was told it was way more craic so it was an easy sell for them!!

When did you join Wegians and Why?

I joined wegians in 2019  when I had moved back to Galway from college. I was hooked at that stage so I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop playing after college and my brother, Cormac, who has sadly passed away played for Wegians when he was in secondary school so joining Wegians made sense for me!

Position?

Prop. Best position on the pitch too, obviously!

Toughest opponent ever?

Niamh O’ Dowd. When she tackles you, you won’t forget it!

Role model or rugby hero? 

Hope Rogers. Loose head prop for Exeter Chiefs and USA. An absolute powerhouse of a player and the skills to match 

Hardest working team mate or best in training ?

All the players on the pitch every week are putting the work in but the player working the hardest at the moment is our very own team manager Dearbhla Canty who is grinding it out in the gym rehabbing her knee from ACL surgery, so everyone should beware because she’s going to come back stronger than ever!

Ambitions for the season?

We have a lot of new players to the squad this year and some of our seasoned players lining out in new positions so we are really looking to develop and learn to perform together this year! The new additions to the team have been great and are driving standards throughout the squad. We started the season with a home win against Ballincollig but as a team we knew we could perform better than we did which unfortunately we didn’t back up with a tough loss on the road to Wicklow but we regrouped and knew what we had to do and came out with a great team performance and solid win at home against Cooke last weekend. The team will be hoping to build on this for the rest of the season and continue to put out the performances we know we are capable of!

Impressions of Jack Clarke and the new coaching ticket?

We have been very lucky this year to have Jack come in as head coach, he has brought great knowledge to the team and has created a really positive atmosphere in the squad. As well as Jack we have Tony, Dave, Oisin and Ciaran who have really listened to the players and have brought great experience in training!

Teammate with the best and worst dress sense?

Best Dressed:  Katherine Mahon is always looking stylish no matter what the occasion!

Worst Dressed: GBM. She knew this was coming haha!

Best and worst taste in music?

Best Taste: Our new resident DJ is Sophie Cullen. She always knows what to play to get everyone pumped!

Worst Taste: Ines Delgado. We don’t know the words to her songs from Argentina so can’t sing along, which doesn’t go down well in the clubhouse haha!

It is with a heavy heart in my role of President of Galwegians Rugby Football Club that I write this brief tribute in memory of Aidan.

Having travelled widely in his rugby and professional life, he recently returned to Galwegians, the club that instilled his love of rugby.

I had the pleasure of hosting him as one of our special guests at our opening men’s AIL match on Saturday where he was seated beside me. I was immediately struck by his enthusiasm, his intellect and his vivacious sense of humour. He had us all enthralled with his hilarious tales of escapades from times previous.

I was convinced that he was going to be someone who was going to have a seismic impact on our club, and I was looking forward to spending lots of time with him over the upcoming season, only to have him tragically and suddenly taken from us the very next day.

On behalf of the club, I offer my condolences to his wife Julie, his children and his extended family. His memory will last long and proud within the gates of Crowley Park.

RIP Aidan, you were taken far too soon.

David Bouchier-Hayes, President, Galwegians RFC

Where are you from?

I’m originally from Ballinasloe.

When did you start playing rugby?

I played minis and underage with Ballinasloe as well as schools rugby with Garbally College. We won two Connacht Schools Senior Cups with Garbally, the most memorable probably when we beat the Jes when I was in 5th year. And I also won an U18.5 Connacht Cup in my final game for Ballinasloe.

Senior Career to Date

After school I moved to Buccaneers to play U20s and AIL. I played 1 season in division 2A and two seasons in division 1B.

Joining Wegians

I just started training with the club back in July, and I’ve been enjoying every minute of it.

I knew a handful of the lads before I joined just from playing against them all the way up, and it’s been very easy to get to know everyone else in the club.

Connacht Senior League Reflections?

I think the Connacht League went well overall, two close games against Sligo and Corinthians. We probably should have won both but we missed out by a couple points. Everything came together for the Buccaneers game and that’s given us a lot of confidence going into the AIL.

Your Position

I normally play 12. In the Connacht Senior League for Wegians, I started at 12 against Corinthians and Buccs, and played at 10 against Sligo. 12 would be my regular position and it would be my favourite too.

Thoughts on the AIL?

I’m really looking forward to getting into the AIL now, and hopefully we can carry on the success the club had last year.

View the full gallery by Molina Oung or click on awardee names below

Women

• Player of the Year: Gemma Faulkner
• Players’ Player of the Year: Ellen Connolly 
• Most Improved Player:  Chloe Casey

Men’s U20s

• Player of the Year: Brian McHugo
• Players’ Player of the Year: Eoghan Fahy
• Most Improved Player: Harry Walsh

Men’s Thirds

• Player of the Year: Ciaran (Charco) Costello  (accepted by Jimmy Hill)
• Players’ Player of the Year: Brendan Devlin (accepted by Jimmy Hill)
• Most Improved Player:  Tom Egan

Men’s Seconds

• Player of the Year: James Deacy
• Players’ Player of the Year: Hugo Gens  (accepted on his behalf by Conor Joyce)
• Most Improved Player:  Jack Haugh

Men’s Firsts

• Player of the Year: Oisin Halpin  (absent)
• Players’ Player of the Year: Garyn Daniel
• Most Improved Player: Ryan Smith

Club Person of the Year

• David Glynn

Our challenging opening qualification campaign resulted in a narrow 31-29 loss to local city rivals Corinthians, meaning we unfortunately missed out on securing a spot in the JP Fanagan Premier 2 competition.

However, under the leadership of Captain Brian McHugo and Co-Captain Jack Quinn, our squad has demonstrated remarkable resilience and gone from strength to strength.

We started our league campaign by winning our first 5 league games in JP Flanagan Premier 3 consecutively. Notable features were dominant performances that included holding both Malahide and Coolmine to 0 tries against us.

Despite facing numerous injuries in key positions, our team exhibited great character and depth with players stepping up to play out of position.

The only setback in the first half of the league has been a narrow 24-19 defeat to Blackrock, a match where either team could have emerged victorious.

As we approach the Christmas break and halfway point in the league, we find ourselves only 3 points behind Blackrock in the standing thanks to bonus points earned. We are firmly in contention for the top spot in the New Year.

Anticipation is high for our upcoming rematch against Blackrock. Throughout the season, we have delivered an exciting brand of rugby, scoring an impressive 224 points over 6 games.

We aim to continue our style in 2024 when we face Naas away in our first fixture on January 14th.

Galwegians RFC (“the Club”)  is presently an unincorporated association.  It operates under a constitution which provides that the property of the Club shall be held by the Trustees of the Club. The present constitution provides that the Trustees “shall be not  less than two and not more than five in number”.

Presently, there are three  Trustees namely Peter Crowley,  Michael Deacy and Billy Glynn.  These Trustees have acted diligently on behalf of the Club for many years and two of them now wish to retire.

For liability and other reasons it is more appropriate that any unincorporated association, such as the Club, would operate as a corporate structure.   The present Board of Management of the Club propose that the Club should move in this direction.

This would mean that the present structure would be wound up,  that a company limited by guarantee would be formed and that this company will take over the operations, activities, assets and liabilities of the Club.

It is proposed to hold an information evening in relation to this proposed change on  Thursday 8 February 2024 at 8 p.m. in Crowley Park with a view to holding a Special General Meeting (“SGM”) some weeks later for the purpose of moving to a corporate structure. 

The matters to be dealt with at the SGM would be:

1. The approval of a new corporate constitution.
2. Authorisation to immediately incorporate a new company limited by guarantee.
3. The dissolution of the present Club structure
4. The transfer of the operations, activities, membership, assets and liabilities of the Club to the new corporate entity.

All members are invited to attend the information evening on Thursday 8 February 2024 to discuss this extremely important step for the future of the Club.

Draft new constitution is available for viewing and download below.

Galwegians RFC formally launched their centenary book publication ‘Galwegians RFC – 100 Years of Rugby History’ at the clubhouse in Crowley Park on Thursday Dec. 7th.

A huge crowd of past & present Galwegians, friends and invited guests and dignitaries were present to witness the culmination of over 3 years’ work.

As part of their centenary celebrations, the club committee decided to document their history and commissioned well-known Galway-based rugby author Linley MacKenzie to write the book. Designed and printed by local company iSupply, it features almost 200 pages. It vividly captures the club’s history from its foundation in 1922 through to present day, with numerous stories, recollections and photographs featuring many of the club’s key personalities. 

Many of the local public representatives were present at the event, including Mayor of Galway city Councillor Eddie Hoare who addressed the audience, commending Galwegians on their history, their contribution to the sporting and social fabric of Galway city and the quality of the book’s publication.

Master of ceremonies, Galwegians President Erc Dunne, also introduced the author Linley MacKenzie, who spoke about her experience of writing the book and researching the club’s rich history. The book was then formally launched by Galwegians Trustee Michael Deacy, a long-serving life member, past President and a member of one of the club’s most influential families.

Galwegians RFC – 100 Years of Rugby History is available to purchase at:

• Clubhouse in Crowley Park, Glenina
• Whelan’s CarePlus Pharmacy, Williamsgate St., Galway
• 0Dangan Nurseries, Newcastle Rd, Galway
• Online with worldwide postage via  https://tinyurl.com/WegiansHistoryBook

More details including Table of Contents and excerpts are in the History section of the club website.

As IRFU president in 1968/69 and a chief dignitary at the Five Nations in Cardiff, Chris Crowley was seated beside Prince Charles, now HM King Charles III, at the fixture against Wales.

It was at a time when Cardiff Arms Park’s new east stand was still in its construction stage. The Irish team was on a high, brimming with confidence. Having played seven internationals in succession without being beaten – six wins and one draw, Ireland were favourites in March 1969.  Only Wales stood between Ireland and the Triple Crown.

Arriving at the Seabank Hotel Portcawl, the Irish party headquarters, it was discovered the Irish captain, before leaving Cork, had received a strange telephone message from a London-based rugby journalist, that apparently the Welsh team had worked out some devious plan, not entirely within the Laws of the Game, to cut the Irish party down to size.

Tom Kiernan did not give much credence to it, but Chris believed a new tension seemed to developing in the entire Irish party, while there was an increased determination to win this match among the players. 

The two teams had togged out in temporary dressing rooms, and the Welsh Rugby Union’s arrangements required that the Prince, escorted by the two Union presidents, Chris Crowley and Ivor Jones, would walk across from the east side to the centre of the pitch where the two teams were lined up in the usual way. 

Chris recalls hearing a lot of booing all around the ground as they walked out – and jokingly whispered to Jones, was it him [Jones] or Chris they were booing – what was it about?  Jones whispered back “fiercely”. “Shut your bloody mouth Chris. He’ll hear you [meaning the prince].”

He recalls another odd occurrence as Prince Charles walked along the two lines shaking hands with the players, one of whom was the Welsh sub hooker Norman Gale. Gale stood with both hands deep in his pockets.

“As the prince came to him, he (Gale) slowly and apparently reluctantly dragged one hand out his pocket and half held it out to be shaken.  

“Then I was intrigued to hear the Prince say: ‘Oh, you’re not playing, you’re just a reserve.’

 “I thought Gale lost out in the little demonstration of bad manners.”